APRIL 2022

VOlUME 05 ISSUE 04 APRIL 2022
Psycho-Social Factors in Older Adults’ Mental Health: A Narrative Review
1Raúl Hormazábal-Salgado, 2Valeria Poblete-Ávila, 3María Victoria Ramírez-Véliz
1,2,3School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Talca, Talca, Chile.

1ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6736-9983,
2ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5071-2765,
3ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2277-0084 DOI : https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v5-i4-39

Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT

Health promotion is a top priority worldwide. This includes mental health in older adults, who are at risk due to the ageing process, associated with deteriorating health status. Notwithstanding the importance of the topic, psycho-social factors are often neglected in the implementation or formulation of advanced age health promotion programs. In this context, it is imperative to reach a better understanding of the main psycho-social aspects involved in mental health promotion in older adults.

The main objective of this narrative review was to identify documents that made a core contribution to the understanding of psycho-social factors related to mental health in community-dwelling older adults. To achieve this, a narrative review was carried out that included a total of 40 articles published between 2018 and 2022. This review was performed through an interpretive stance. Ethical approval was not required for this review.

Three main categories were derived from thematic analysis: (i) mental health interventions; (ii) mental health and frailty in older adults, and (iii) social support in older adults.

To conclude, understanding the main protective psycho-social factors involved in mental health in community-dwelling older adults is of paramount importance. Identifying the implications of the psycho-social factors in this population is vital to elaborate specific interventions, therefore enhancing their mental health.

KEYWORDS:

geriatric; health; mental health; health promotion; health education; community health nursing

REFERENCES

1) United Nations (UN). Resolution A/RES/70/1. Transforming our world: the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. In: Seventieth United Nations General Assembly, New York. Available from: http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E.

2) World Health Organization (2017). Mental health of older adults. Author. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-of-older-adults

3) Farhadloo, R., Shojaei, S., Torabian, H., Vahedian, M., Zakerimoghadam, M., & Parvaresh-Masoud, M. (2020). Mental health of community-dwelling older adults and related factors: A cross-sectional study. Medical - Surgical Nursing Journal, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.5812/msnj.99059

4) Salvi, D. (2017). Prevention of depression in elderly: An introduction to facilitate a healthy ageing process. Indian Journal of Health & Well-being, 8(10), 1271-1275. Retrieved from: http://www.i-scholar.in/index.php/ijhw/article/view/162481

5) Chiu, C.-J., Hu, J.-C., Lo, Y.-H., & Chang, E.-Y. (2020). Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Interventions for the Elderly: A Scoping Review from 2015–2019. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(15), 1-11. Retrieved from doi:10.3390/ijerph17155335

6) Green, B. N., Johnson, C. D., & Adams, A. (2006). Writing narrative literature reviews for peer-reviewed journals: secrets of the trade. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 5(3), 101–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0899-3467(07)60142-6

7) Rodríguez G, Gil J, García E (1996). Methodology of Qualitative Research. Ediciones Aljibe; Granada.

8) Tang, J. Y. M., Wong, G. H. Y., Luo, H., Liu, T., & Lum, T. Y. S. (2020). Cognitive changes associated with mentally active lifestyle and structured cognitive programs: a 2-year longitudinal study. Aging & Mental Health, 24(11), 1781–1788. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1636204

9) Yoshida, Y., Iwasa, H., Ishioka, Y., & Suzukamo, Y. (2021). Leisure activity moderates the relationship between living alone and mental health among Japanese older adults. Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 21(5), 421–425. https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14151

10) Wang, L. N., Tao, H., Wang, M., Yu, H. W., Su, H., & Wu, B. (2019). Efficacy of path-oriented psychological self-help interventions to improve mental health of empty-nest older adults in the Community of China. BMC psychiatry, 19(1), 365. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2327-9

11) Crane, M. F., Kho, M., Kangas, M., Griffin, B., Karin, E., Earl, J. K., & Harris, C. B. (2020). Strengthening resilience in over 50’s: a nested clustered-randomized controlled trial of adaptive systematic self-reflection. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 33(6), 623–641. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2020.1768375

12) Wong, A. K. C., & Wong, F. K. Y. (2020). The psychological impact of a nurse-led proactive self-care program on independent, non-frail community-dwelling older adults: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 110(103724), 103724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103724

13) Ehsan, A., Sommet, N., Morselli, D., & Spini, D. (2021). Collaborative competence, social capital, and mental health: A cross‐sectional analysis of a community‐based intervention for older adults. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 31(1), 53–67. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2481

14) Yeo, L. H. W., Mah, F. C. Y., Chong, E. Y., Lim, A. H.-S., Ng, S. T., & Yi, H. (2022). Does gender matter to promote mental health through community engagement among older adults? Aging & Mental Health, 26(1), 186–195. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1855106

15) Harada, K., Masumoto, K., Katagiri, K., Fukuzawa, A., Touyama, M., Sonoda, D., Chogahara, M., Kondo, N., & Okada, S. (2021). Three-year effects of neighborhood social network intervention on mental and physical health of older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 25(12), 2235–2245. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1839858

16) Conwell, Y., Van Orden, K. A., Stone, D. M., McIntosh, W. L., Messing, S., Rowe, J., Podgorski, C., Kaukeinen, K. A., & Tu, X. (2021). Peer companionship for mental health of older adults in primary care: A pragmatic, nonblinded, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: Official Journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, 29(8), 748–757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2020.05.021

17) Moon, J. H., Huh, J. S., Won, C. W., & Kim, H. J. (2022). Living and eating alone on depressive symptoms by physical frailty status: A cross-sectional study based on the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 98(104570), 104570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2021.104570

18) Chan, W., Chui, C. H. K., Cheung, J. C. S., Lum, T. Y. S., & Lu, S. (2021). Associations between volunteering and mental health during COVID-19 among Chinese older adults. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 64(6), 599–612. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2021.1904079

19) Yoshizawa, Y., Tanaka, T., Takahashi, K., Fujisaki-Sueda-Sakai, M., Son, B.-K., & Iijima, K. (2021). Impact of health literacy on the progression of frailty after 4 years among community-dwelling older adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 394. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010394

20) Rahman, M. M., Hamiduzzaman, M., Akter, M. S., Farhana, Z., Hossain, M. K., Hasan, M. N., & Islam, M. N. (2021). Frailty indexed classification of Bangladeshi older adults’ physio-psychosocial health and associated risk factors- a cross-sectional survey study. BMC Geriatrics, 21(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01970-5

21) Chong, E. Y., Lim, A. H.-S., Mah, F. C. Y., Yeo, L. H. W., Ng, S. T., & Yi, H. (2022). Assessing the psychosocial dimensions of frailty among older adults in Singapore: a community-based cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 12(2), e047586. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047586

22) Ge, L., Yap, C. W., & Heng, B. H. (2019). Prevalence of frailty and its association with depressive symptoms among older adults in Singapore. Aging & Mental Health, 23(3), 319–324. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2017.1416332

23) Borges, M. K., Oude Voshaar, R. C., Romanini, C. F. de V., Oliveira, F. M., Lima, N. A., Petrella, M., Costa, D. L., Martinelli, J. E., Mingardi, S. V. B., Siqueira, A., Biela, M., Collard, R., & Aprahamian, I. (2021). Could frailty be an explanatory factor of the association between depression and other geriatric syndromes in later life? Clinical Gerontologist, 44(2), 143–153. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2020.1836106

24) Batko-Szwaczka, A., Dudzińska-Griszek, J., Hornik, B., Janusz-Jenczeń, M., Włodarczyk, I., Wnuk, B., Szołtysek, J., Durmała, J., Wilczyński, K., Cogiel, A., Dulawa, J., & Szewieczek, J. (2020). Frailty Phenotype: Evidence of Both Physical and Mental Health Components in Community-Dwelling Early-Old Adults. Clinical interventions in aging, 15, 141–150. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S238521

25) Hayashi, T., Noguchi, T., Kubo, Y., Tomiyama, N., Ochi, A., & Hayashi, H. (2022). Social frailty and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults in Japan: Role of home exercise habits. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 98(104555), 104555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2021.104555

26) Moehling, K. K., Nowalk, M. P., Zimmerman, R. K., Bromberger, J. T., Lin, C. J., Ford, S. E., & Bertolet, M. (2021). Spirituality, quality of life and frailty in community-dwelling adults ≥ 50 years. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000387

27) Bamonti, P. M., & Fiske, A. (2021). Engaging in pleasant events explains the relation between physical disability and mental health outcomes in older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 25(2), 225–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1683811

28) van Het Bolscher-Niehuis, M. J. T., Uitdehaag, M. J., Bergsma, A., & Francke, A. L. (2021). Self-managing physical and mental health: A qualitative study on older adults’ views and support needs in the Netherlands. Health & Social Care in the Community. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13568

29) Tang, F., Jang, H., Mulvaney, E. A., Lee, J. S., Musa, D., & Beach, S. (2019). Mental health among older adults with caregiving needs: The role of social networks. Social Work Research, 43(3), 157–167. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svz013

30) Mehrabi, F., & Béland, F. (2021). Frailty as a moderator of the relationship between social isolation and health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1675. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041675

31) Park, N. S., Jang, Y., Lee, B. S., Chiriboga, D. A., Chang, S., & Kim, S. Y. (2018). Associations of a social network typology with physical and mental health risks among older adults in South Korea. Aging & Mental Health, 22(5), 631–638. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2017.1286456

32) Park, S., Shin, O., Lee, S., & Baek, J. (2021). Multi-dimensional social relations and mental health among rural older adults. Research on Aging, 43(5–6), 191–202. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027520948833

33) Song, Q., Wang, H., & Burr, J. A. (2022). Depressive symptoms among rural “left-behind” older adults: A test of the high outmigration penalty hypothesis. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 77(3), 592–603. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbab040

34) Aydın, A., Işık, A., & Kahraman, N. (2020). Mental health symptoms, spiritual well-being and meaning in life among older adults living in nursing homes and community dwellings. Psychogeriatrics: The Official Journal of the Japanese Psychogeriatric Society, 20(6), 833–843. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.12613

35) Tang, J. Y. M., Chui, C. H. K., Lou, V. W. Q., Chiu, R. L. H., Kwok, R., Tse, M., Leung, A. Y. M., Chau, P.-H., & Lum, T. Y. S. (2021). The contribution of sense of community to the association between age-friendly built environment and health in a high-density city: A cross-sectional study of middle-aged and older adults in Hong Kong. Journal of Applied Gerontology: The Official Journal of the Southern Gerontological Society, 40(12), 1687–1696. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464821991298

36) Tan, M. M., Su, T. T., Ting, R. S.-K., Allotey, P., & Reidpath, D. (2021). Religion and mental health among older adults: ethnic differences in Malaysia. Aging & Mental Health, 25(11), 2116–2123. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1799939

37) Guo, M., Steinberg, N. S., Dong, X., & Tiwari, A. (2018). A cross-sectional study of coping resources and mental health of Chinese older adults in the United States. Aging & Mental Health, 22(11), 1448–1455. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2017.1364345

38) Hui Gan, G. Z., Hill, A.-M., Yeung, P., Keesing, S., & Netto, J. A. (2020). Pet ownership and its influence on mental health in older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 24(10), 1605–1612. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1633620

39) Noguchi, T., Nojima, I., Inoue-Hirakawa, T., & Sugiura, H. (2021). Role of non-face-to-face social contacts in moderating the association between living alone and mental health among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study. Public Health, 194, 25–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2021.02.016

40) Cheng, J. M., Batten, G. P., & Yao, N. A. (2022). A qualitative study of the social and lived experiences of homebound older adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology: The Official Journal of the Southern Gerontological Society, 41(3), 744–753. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648211040383

41) van Tilburg, T. G., Steinmetz, S., Stolte, E., van der Roest, H., & de Vries, D. H. (2021). Loneliness and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study Among Dutch Older Adults. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, 76(7), e249–e255. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa111

42) Li, Y., Kabayama, M., Tseng, W., & Kamide, K. (2022). The presence of neighbours in informal supportive interactions is important for mental health in later life. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 100(104627), 104627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2022.104627

43) Lee, K., & Marier, P. (2021). Aging in place with a spouse in need: Neighborhood cohesion and older adult spouses’ physical and mental health. International Journal of Aging & Human Development, 93(4), 1012–1030. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091415020974616

44) Gonyea, J. G., Curley, A., Melekis, K., & Lee, Y. (2018). Perceptions of neighborhood safety and depressive symptoms among older minority urban subsidized housing residents: the mediating effect of sense of community belonging. Aging & Mental Health, 22(12), 1564–1569. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2017.1383970

45) Pitrou, I., Berbiche, D., & Vasiliadis, H.-M. (2020). Mental health and satisfaction with primary care services in older adults: a study from the patient perspective on four dimensions of care. Family Practice, 37(4), 459–464. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmaa019

46) Kino, S., Nishioka, D., Ueno, K., Haseda, M., & Kondo, N. (2022). Public assistance program and depressive symptoms of the recipient: a cross-sectional Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 177. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-02868-0

47) Scott, J. M., Yun, S. W., & Qualls, S. H. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and distress of community-dwelling older adults. Geriatric Nursing (New York, N.Y.), 42(5), 998–1005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2021.06.020

48) Gyasi, R. M., Yeboah, A. A., Mensah, C. M., Ouedraogo, R., & Aboagye, E. A. (2019). Neighborhood, Social Isolation and Mental Health Outcome among Older People in Ghana. Journal of Affective Disorders, 259, 154-163. Retrieved from doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.024

49) Duncan, F., Baskin, C., McGrath, M., Coker, J. F., Lee, C., Dykxhoorn, J., Adams, E. A., Gnani, S., Lafortune, L., Kirkbride, J. B., Kaner, E., Jones, O., Samuel, G., Walters, K., Osborn, D., & Oliver, E. J. (2021). Community interventions for improving adult mental health: mapping local policy and practice in England. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 1691. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11741-5

50) Adepoju, O., Lin, S.-H., Mileski, M., Kruse, C. S., & Mask, A. (2018). Mental health status and healthcare utilization among community dwelling older adults. Journal of Mental Health (Abingdon, England), 27(6), 511–519. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2018.1466030

51) van Het Bolscher-Niehuis, M. J. T., Uitdehaag, M. J., & Francke, A. L. (2020). Community nurses’ self-management support in older adults: A qualitative study on views, dilemmas and strategies. Health & Social Care in the Community, 28(1), 195–203. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12853

52) Seah, B., Kowitlawakul, Y., Jiang, Y., Ang, E., Chokkanathan, S., & Wang, W. (2019). A review on healthy ageing interventions addressing physical, mental and social health of independent community-dwelling older adults. Geriatric Nursing (New York, N.Y.), 40(1), 37–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.06.002

53) Budd, M., Iqbal, A., Harding, C., Rees, E., & Bhutani, G. (2021). Mental health promotion and prevention in primary care: What should we be doing vs. what are we actually doing? Mental Health & Prevention, 21(200195), 200195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhp.2020.200195

54) Motaharinezhad, F., Madani, P., Seyed, S., Avaz, K. & Rasolzadeh, M. (2016). The Impact of the Six-Week Walking on the Elderly’s Happiness and Mental Health. Middle East Journal of Rehabilitation and Health Studies: The Official Journal of Semnan University of Medical Sciences, 3(3). Retrieved from doi: 10.17795/mejrh-36697

55) Kadariya, S., Gautam, R., & Aro, A. R. (2019). Physical activity, mental health, and wellbeing among older adults in South and Southeast Asia: A scoping review. BioMed Research International, 2019, 6752182. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6752182

56) Chiu, C.-J., Hu, J.-C., Lo, Y.-H., & Chang, E.-Y. (2020). Health promotion and disease prevention interventions for the elderly: A scoping review from 2015-2019. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(15), 5335. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155335

57) Niclasen, J., Lund, L., Obel, C., & Larsen, L. (2019). Mental health interventions among older adults: A systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 47(2), 240–250. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494818773530

58) Lundström, S., Jormfeldt, H., Hedman Ahlström, B., & Skärsäter, I. (2020). Mental health nurses' experience of physical health care and health promotion initiatives for people with severe mental illness. International journal of mental health nursing, 29(2), 244–253.

59) Kojima, G. (2017). Frailty as a predictor of disabilities among community-dwelling older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Disability and Rehabilitation, 39(19), 1897–1908. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2016.1212282

60) Tavares, D. M. D. S., Faria, P. M., Pegorari, M. S., Ferreira, P. C. D. S., Nascimento, J. S., & Marchiori, G. F. (2018). Frailty syndrome in association with depressive symptoms and functional disability among hospitalized elderly. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 39(5), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2018.1429035

61) Bickford, D., Morin, R. T., Woodworth, C., Verduzco, E., Khan, M., Burns, E., Nelson, J. C., & Mackin, R. S. (2021). The relationship of frailty and disability with suicidal ideation in late life depression. Aging & Mental Health, 25(3), 439–444. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1698514

62) Freer, K., & Wallington, S. L. (2019). Social frailty: the importance of social and environmental factors in predicting frailty in older adults. British Journal of Community Nursing, 24(10), 486–492. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2019.24.10.486

63) Muehlschlegel, P. A., Parkinson, E. A., Chan, R. Y., Arden, M. A., & Armitage, C. J. (2021). Learning from previous lockdown measures and minimizing harmful biopsychosocial consequences as they end: A systematic review. Journal of Global Health, 11(05008), 05008. Retrieved from doi:10.7189/jogh.11.05008

64) da Cruz, W. M., D’ Oliveira, A., Dominski, F. H., Diotaiuti, P., & Andrade, A. (2021). Mental health of older people in social isolation: the role of physical activity at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sport Sciences for Health, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00825-9

65) Mazatán-Ochoa, C. I., González-Soto, C. E., Agüero-Grande, J. A., & Guerrero-Castañeda, R. F. (2021). Mental health care in older adults during the covid-19 post – new normality transition. Cogitare Enfermagem, 26. https://doi.org/10.5380/ce.v26i0.78463

VOlUME 05 ISSUE 04 APRIL 2022

Indexed In

Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar Avatar